Elite thimble



Jan. 28, 1930. T. E. TYNES FLUE THIMBLE Filed March 30, 1929 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 28, 1930 PATENT FFICE THOMAS E. TYNES, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK FLUE THIMBLE Application filed March 30, 1929.

This invention relates to a flue thimble. As is well known, chimneys or flue openings have placed therein flue liners, and in a great many cases the liner is distorted from its circular form when it is bricked into the chimney, which makes it very difficult and sometimes impossible to position the present form ofthimbles into the chimney or fine opening, and to overcome the foregoing objection is one of the aims of this invention, and which is attained by providing, in a manner as hereinafter set forth a thimble including means for automatically conforming to the contour of a flue opening or liner, as well as for finedly securing the thimble in position relative to the liner and wall of the opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a flue thimble including inherent means for applying a gripping action not only on the wall of the flue opening, but also on the pipe entering the thimble, whereby the entered pipe is held in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a flue thimble of the class referred to includ ing a center opening and an inner and outer set of resilient gripping fingers, and with the inner set positoned relatively to the center opening whereby no matter how far the pipe may beshoved into the center opening it will remain where placed on account of the gripping action of the inner set of gripping fingers, and furthermore if the pipeshould vary in size from the standard diameter, the spring like action of the fingers of the inner set, which is always towards the center, will allow the fingers to adjust themselves to the variations and thus hold the pipe Wherever placed, and a similar function is also provided with respect to the outer set of gripping fingers whereby these latter will grip the wall of the chimney or flue opening and adjust themselves to any variations in suchopenin Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a fine thimble of the class referred to, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, automatic in its gripping action, thoroughly efficient in its Serial No. 351,217.

use, conveniently installed, and comparative ly inexpensive to manufacture.

l/Viththe foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the flue thimble in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view thereof.

A fine thimble in accordance with this invention, includes a tubular member and a head referred to generally at 1, 2 respectively.

The member 1 comprises a hollow tapered body 3 which greatly decreases in diameter from its inner towards its outer end and is of band like form. The inner part of the body 3 is formed with triangular shaped cut-out portions, as indicated at at to provide a set of out *ardly directed, resilient gripping fingers- 5. The cut-out portions l extend from the inner end of the body 3 to a point in proximity to the transverse center of the latter. The outer end of the body 3 is provided with an outwardly projecting right angularly disposed endless flat flange 6.

The head 2 consists of a flat body 7 of a contour corresponding to that of the shape of the body 3 and said body 7 is formed with an opening 8 which is termed the center opening of the reduce-r. The perimeter of the body 7 is bent upon itself as at 9 to extend around the flange 6 whereby the body 7 is coupled to the outer end of the body 3. The body 7 seats against the flange 6. Formed integral with the wall of the opening 8 and extending inwardly therefrom as well as projecting away from the body 3 in a direction opposite the direction of the fingers 5, is an inner set of resilient gripping fingers 10 for the pipe and the latter is adapted to extend within the set of fingers 10 whereby it is gripped and retained in position.

No matter how far the pipe may be shoved into the set of fingers 10 or center opening 8 it will remain where placed on account of the gripping action of fingers 10.

The fingers 5 will not only grip the wall of the chimney or flue opening but will adjust themselves to the contour of the latter.

The head 2 is retained in position against the outer end of the member 1 by the bent portion 9 connected to the flange 6 and which retains the set of fingers 10 centrally with respect to the member 1. It may be stated that the set of fingers 10 form a continuation of the center opening 8. The fingers 5 normally tend to project outwardly whereby the fingers 10 normally tend to project inwardly, that is to say, toward the axis of the member 1. By this arrangement the fingers 5 grip the wall of the opening and the fingers 10 grip the periphery of the pipe, and the thimble, as well as the pipe is retained in position.

It is thought that the many advantages of l thimble, in accordance with this invention can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construclion can be had which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Vhat I claim is 1. A flue thimble comprising a tubular member and a head. said member and head having coacting means for connecting the head against the outer end of said member, said member having its inner portion provided with inherent gripping fingers to engage the walls of a chimney or flue opening, and said head having inherent resilient gripping members surrounded and spaced from said member for engaging the periphery of the pipe to retain the latter in position relative to said member.

2. A flue thimble comprising a tubular member and a head, said member and head having coacting means for connecting the head against the outer end of the member, said member having its inner portion provided with inherent gripping fingers to engage the walls of a chimney or fine opening, and said head having inherent resilient gripping fingers surrounded and spaced from the member for engaging the periphery of he pipe to retain the latter in position rela tive to said member, the gripping fingers of said member projecting away from the axis of the latter and the gripping fingers of the head projecting toward the axis of the mem 3. A flue thimble comprising a tubular member gradually decreasing in diameter from one end towards its other end, a head positioned against the smaller end of said member and extending into the latter, that part of the head extending into said member formed with inherent, resilient gripping fingers projecting towards the axis of said member, and said member having its portion of largest diameter formed with inherent, resilient fingers, and said member and head having coacting means for securing the member to said head.

4. A flue thimble comprising a tubular member of tapered form and provided with cutout portions to form a series of inherent, resilient fingers, a. head positioned against the reduced end of said member, said head formed of an opening and a series of inherent, resilient fingers each extending inwardly from the wall of said opening and surrounded by said member and further spaced from the fingers of the latter, and said member and head having coacting means for connecting them together.

5. A flue thimble comprising a tubular member of tapered form and provided with cutout portions to form a series of inherent, resilient fingers, a head positioned against the reduced end of said member, said head formed of an opening and a series of inherent, and resilient fingers each extending inwardly from the wall of said opening and surrounded by said member and further spaced from the fingers of the latter, said member and head having coacting means for connecting them together, the resilient fingers of said member projecting from the axis thereof and the resilient fingers of said head extending toward the axis of said member.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature hereto.

THOMAS E. TYNES. 

